The Crowing
Starring: Devin

A heart stained in hate, a feeling of fear will play circles...
  — Coheed & Cambria, "The Crowing"

Just a short piece about Devin's background, as he goes about his everyday activities; these things are never too far from his mind, I guess.  This story is set in the Deviation continuity.

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Once upon a time, there was a little orphan boy.

He was adopted by a kindly old man, and raised virtually as the man's son. But, since that dear old man also happened to be a sorcerer, the little boy was taught as his apprentice. He learned quickly and well, and adored his "father"; life was happy and full.

One day, however, the old man was killed by demon thieves, and the boy was savagely abused and left on the brink of death.

He mourned silently; he nursed himself back to health. He returned to his magical studies, becoming an expert in obscure talismanic magic. He took odd jobs as a sort of mage-for-hire, and exorcised many demons, vowing to never again be left to simply watch as they cut someone down before his very eyes.

But never would he let himself care so much about someone; all lives ended eventually, didn't they? And that pain was something he never wanted to endure again. The door to his heart was closed, locked, and the key has long since been discarded.